Weaving apparatus



NOV. 26, 1946. ARENA WEAVING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 d m 2 .w g F L 2 x. k A; ,2. h J 4. 6 o v p0 9V m. Edi 4 awwemroz Jo seph E. APenq Nov. 26, 1946. J. E. ARENA WEAVING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JBSe h EArena 7 I I Nov. 26, 1946. 4 J. ARENA 2,411,512

WEAVING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21, 1 946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3- 55.. lllll 1 I Patented Nov. 2 6, 1946 Joseph E. Arena, United States Airmy;

' Hammonton, N. I

Application February 21,. 1946, SerialNoi 649,447

6 Claims.

(Grantedz under the act of March 3; 1883, as,

amended April-30, 1928; 3-700; G; 757) The'inventio'n described herein maybe manufactu'red and used by orfor the Government for governmental purposes, without payment; to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to weaving apparatus, andimore particularly'to an apparatus for weaving narrow strips or garlands into camouflage nets, although not limited thereto.

In the'art of camouflage, nets are draped over heavy weapons, vehicles, stores and other bulky objects,- the construction and appearance ofthe net being such that the same blends into the surrounding area. It has been found that for certain purposes, such as those of a combat area, cloth garnishing hasbeen most practical. The net itself is a simple arrangement of suitably spaced parallel longitudinal strands intersected at suitable intervals". by parallel cross-strands. There are a number" of materials which maybe used for net-garnishing, such as chicken feathergst'eelzwooli Spanish moss between layers of chicken wire, glass wool, patch-and-strip garnishing, etc;, using natural and artificial materials; takes the form: oft cloth garlands of strands, usually intheforni of: relatively narrow woven strip, andthe task of weaving tlie same intothe'f net: ('orrbasefabric'). is tedious-at? best'; ItLisi'not practicable, and sometimes'not; possible; to prediet: the' desired combinations of: colors and pat terns to be. provided by the garlands; and for" this reason. the: garlandscannot bei incorporated inthe net. at: the time of its manufacture. It is therefore; necessary to perform.- this: operation separately and subsequently; Whether this operation' takes place-in-the factory: or attlie com-- bat area, it is extremely time-consuming and tiresome. i 1 Y It. is; among the objects-of the present invention'. to provide a weaving apparatus which; while to semi-automatically garnish camouflage nets; whereby time and man power is greatly'conserved; I j

Another object is the provision of an appa ratus of the type described which issimple and inexpensive to manufacture, operate-and maintain. 7

Still; another object is theattainment of the foregoing-by an apparatus which may also'be operated to. shear the garland" in such manner as'to leave it: in place.

A further object is the provision of an apparatus'of the class described which maybe 0perated inspeedy fashion .over a long periodof time with but a minimum of fatigue; I

The invention, then, comprises the features hereinafterfully described, and. as particularly; pointed out inthe-claims, the followingnescrip'e tion and the annexed drawings setting forth in Most frequently the garnishing material 40 adapted for other uses, is particularly adapted the latter.

. 2 detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention; this being indicative of but one of several ways in which the principles of thei'nven tion' may be successfully employed.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective of the apparatusof the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is aside elevation;

Figure '3 is a perspective illustrating in detail the upper and lower elongate strips between which the strandis'f'ed; I

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail, partly in section, of the forward end' of the apparatus;

Figure 5 isani elevational view on the line 5'5 the Weaving apparatus of the invention com-' prises a horizontally disposedoblong frame which is made up of a pair of parallel longitudinal members 2? and righti-angularly disposed end members 3 which connect the longitudinal members adjacent one of their extremities. If desired, the longitudinal members 2' and the end member inlay take the form ofstandardstructural elements, for example, angle irons, etc.

A pair of diagonal members 4' are secured to and extend upwardly from the longitudinal members 2' and project beyond the adjacent ends of The upper ends of these diagonally upwardly extending members 4 terminate in handle members 5'. tend between, and connect, the diagonally upwardly extending members 4 with the longitudinal members 2" of the horizontally disposed oblong frame.

Immediately below each of the vertical bracing members 6 there is mounted? a wheel 8: for su porting the adjacent end' of the horizontally disposed oblong frame. Referring to the. opposite, or forward, end of the oblong frame, the end member 3 car-riesan inwardly extending horizontal shaft H on which there is pivotally mounted a yoke' l2 carrying a normally horizontal spindle l3 on which there is rotatably mounteda, pair of relatively small wheels l4;

The elements thus far described, form a Wheeled truck or carriage which may be eflimembers 4.

Disposed immediately below the vertical bracing members'fi' is a horizontal apron [8 which ex- ,tends' betweenthe' parallel longitudinal members 2, and' is mounted for swinging movement Vertical bracing members 6- exwith respect thereto. This apron l8 carries a pair of spaced horizontal strips 20 which are disposed between, and extend in parallelism with, the longitudinal members 2, to terminate adjacent to, but in spaced relationshi from, the yoke I2 carrying the relatively small wheels l4.

The apron I8 carries a pair of aligned and widely spaced vertical supports 22 each of which carries an anti-friction roller 23. A horizontally disposed slidable plate 24 is supported by the anti-friction rollers 23 and is free to move forwardly and rearwardly of the oblong frame.

The horizontally disposed slidable plate 24 carries a pair of strips 25 which are disposed over the previously described spaced horizontal strips 20; and the forward ends of the strips 25 converge onto and make contact with the corresponding portions of the said strips 20 as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The remaining portions of the strips 25 extend angularly away from the strips 23 to provide passages therebetween; and the edges of the forward ends of the strips 25 are serrated, as shown at 250.. The purpose of such construction and arrangement will shortly appear.

The diagonal members 4 support a horizontal shaft 28 which is disposed above and transversely of the longitudinal members 2. Suitable leverand-link systems connect the slidable plate 24 with the shaft 28 and the latter with an operating handle 30 which is disposed conveniently adjacent the right-hand handle member 5, as shown in Figure 1.

The forward edge of the horizontal apron l8 (which is mounted at its ends for swinging move ment) carries a forwardly projecting lever 3| to which there is attached an operating cable 32. The other end of the operating cable 32 connects with an operating lever 33 which is disposed adjacent to the left-hand of the handle members 5.

Referring more particularly to Figure 3, the forward end of each of the pair of lower strips 25 carries a short hingedly mounted extension 35 which is capable of upward angular movement with respect to a horizontal plane.

The side edges of the hingedly mounted extensions 35 and the correspondingly adjacent portions of the lower strips 2!) are provided with upwardly xtending integral flanges 35a, and 20a, respectively, which overlap at their adjacent ends. The upwardly extending integral flanges 25a of the lower strips 20 are tapered inwardly, as at 23b, to substantially the upper surfaces of said strips. The upwardly extending integral flanges 35a of the hingedl mounted extensions 35 taper outwardly thereof from a height which is sub stantially that of the corresponding flanges 25a of the contiguous lower strips 23 to the plane of the upper surfaces of the said extensions as shown at 35c. Preferably, too, the forward extremities of the extensions 35 are complementarily beveled to provide for easy insertion of the said extensions under the cross-strands of the net, the manner and purpose of which will appear immediately hereinafter.

At the inner ends of the upwardly extending integral flanges 35a of the extensions 35 there is formed a vertical protuberance or ear 3! for the purpose of enabling a cross-strand riding thereover to elevate the said extensions whereby they will be permitted to ride over the next parallel cross-strand; provided, of course, that the latter is not too closely or too distantly, spaced. Thus, the extensions will ride over and under the parallel cross-strands in alternating relationship.

Referring to Figure 2, the vertical bracing members 5 carry a transverse shaft 40 which is adapted to support a pair of rotatable reels 4! of the strands to be woven through the cross-strands of the net or base fabric. For illustrative purposes, the strands 42 are shown as of garnishing material for camouflage nets, and take the form of relatively narrow woven strips.

From its rotatable reel 4|, each of the strands 42 (i. e. relatively narrow woven strip) is fed downwardly, then over a transversely extending guide 43; then horizontally forward into and through the space between the adjacent pair of upper and lower strips 25 and 25 respectively. As the strands 42 pass from between the forward ends of their respective lower and upper strips, they extend over the upper surfaces of the hingedly mounted extensions 35 on the said lower strips.

A stationary shear blade 45 is carried by one of the longitudinal frame members 2 at a point which is forward of the hingedly mounted extensions 35 on the forward ends of the lower strips 29. Cooperating with the stationary shear blade 45 is a pivotally mounted horizontally movable shear blade 46 which is actuated by an operating cable 41. The other end of the operating cable 41 is connected to an operating handle 48 which is mounted adjacent the handle member 5 of the right-hand diagonal member 4.

In operation:

A camouflage net X is stretched out on a relatively fiat surface and the machine of the invention is moved to the desired point on the net while the operator squeezes the lever 33 to partially rotate the shaft 28 and elevate the forward edgeof the horizontal apron 18. This elevates the bottom strips 20 and the upper strips 25 which ride thereon; and prevents the said bottom strips from dragging on the ground.

Next, the hinge'dly mounted extensions 35 on the lower strips 20 are aligned with the longitudinal rows of the net X; the lever 33 is released to lower the lower strips 20; and by the use of the handle members 5 the machine is pushed forward. In moving the ears 31 on the side flanges 35a of the hingedly mounted extension 35 on the lower strips 20 catch the cross-strands of the net and cause the said extensions 35a to rise over alternate cross-strands. The machine is moved as far as it is desired to garnish the net X and is then stopped. The operating handle 33 is operated to partially rotate the shaft 28, move the slidable plate 24 forwardly, and thereby impart forward movement to the upper strips 25. This forward movement of the upper strips 25 permits the serrations 25a on the forward ends to catch the strands 42 and project them forwardly over the stationary lower strips 20. The machine is then backed up slightly so that the wheels I4 rest on the projected ends of the strands 42 and hold them against withdrawal thereof from the net as the machine is moved rearwardly to the point at which the operation was begun. During this rearward movement of the machine the strands 42 are drawn from between the forward ends of the lower and upper strips. At the end of the rearward movement the operator again squeezes the lever 33 to elevate the bottom strips .23 and the upper strips 25 to a height at which the body portions of the strand 42 are in the path of the movable shear blade 45. The operating handle 48 is then moved to actuate the movable shear blade 46 and sever the adjacent portions of the strands 42.

In the foregoing manner, then, the strands 42 are interwoven into the net X. Securing of the strands 42 in the interwoven relationship may be accomplished in any suitable manner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to secur by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for weaving a strand into a substantiall horizontall disposed open-mesh crossstrand fabric comprising a wheeled carriage adapted for movement over said fabric, an elongate strip adapted to assume a substantially horizontal position in close proximity to said fabric, a deflectible extension on one end of said elongate strip, a second elongate strip disposed above and in substantial parallelism with said firstnamed strip whereby the strand to be woven may be inserted between said strips, the upper strip being disposed to converge upon and engage the inserted strand at a point which is adjacent the deflectible extension on the lower strip, and means on said deflectible extension for engagement by the cross-strands of the fabric to impart a weaving motion to said extension during the unitary longitudinal movement of the upper and lower strips with the wheeled carriage.

2. Apparatus for weaving a strand into a substantially horizontally disposed open-mesh crossstrandfabric comprising a wheeled carriage adapted for movement over said fabric, an elongate strip adapted to assume a substantially horizontal position in close proximity to said fabric, a deflectible extension on one end of said elongate strip, a second elongate strip disposed above and in substantial parallelism with said first-named strip whereby the strand to be woven may be inserted between said strips, the upper strip being disposed to converge upon and engage the inserted strand at a point which is adjacent the defiectible extension on the lower strip, means for enabling the longitudinal sliding movement of the upper strip with respect to the lower strip to thereby feed the forward end of said strand over said deflectible extension, and means on said defiectible extension for engagement by the crossstrands of the fabric to impart a weaving motion to said extension during the unitary longitudinal movement of the upper and lower strips with the wheeled carriage.

3. Apparatus for weaving a strand into a substantially horizontally disposed open-mesh crossstrand fabric comprising a wheeled carriage adapted for movement over said fabric, an elongate strip adapted to assume a substantially horizontal position in close proximity to said fabric, a vertically deflectible extension on one end of said elongate strip, a second elongate strip disposed above and in substantial parallelism with said first-named strip whereby the strand to be woven may be inserted between said strips, the upper strip beingdisposed to converge upon and engage the inserted strand at a point which is adjacent the deflectible extension on the lower strip, means on said deflectible extension for engagement by the cross-strands of the fabric to impart a weaving motion to said extension during the unitary longitudinal movement of the upper and lower strips with the wheeled carriage, and means for elevating and lowering the forward end of the lower strip with respect to the wheeled carriage.

4. Apparatus for weaving a strand into a substantially horizontally disposed open-mesh crossstrand fabric comprising a wheeled carriage' adapted for movement over saidfabric, an elongate strip adapted to assume a, substantially horizontal position in close proximity to said fabric, a vertically defiectible extension on one end of said elongate strip, a second elongate strip disposed above and in substantial parallelism with said first-named strip whereby the strand to be woven may be inserted between said strips, the upper strip being disposed to converge upon and engage the inserted strand at a point which is adjacent the defiectible extension on the lower strip, means for enabling the longitudinal sliding movement of the upper strip with respect to the lower strip to thereby feed the forward end of said strand over said defiectible extension, means on said deflectible extension for engagement by the cross-strands of the fabric to impart a weaving motion tosaid extensionduring the unitary longitudinal movement of the upper and lower strips with the wheeled carriage, and means for elevating and lowering the forward end of the lower strip with respect to the wheeled carriage.

5. Apparatus for weaving a strand into a substantially horizontally disposed open-mesh crossstrand fabric comprising a wheeled carriage adapted for movement over said fabric, an elongate strip adapted to assume a substantially horizontal position in close proximity to said fabric, a vertically deflectible extension on one end of said elongate strip, a second elongate strip disposed above and in substantial parallelism with said first-named strip whereby the strand to be woven may be inserted between said strips, the upper strip being disposed to converge upon and engage the inserted strand at a point which is adjacent the deflectible extension on the lower strip, means on said deflectible extension for engagement by the cross-strands of the fabric to impart a weaving motion to said extension during the unitary longitudinal movement of the upper and lower strips with the wheeled carriage,

and a shear disposed adjacent said defiectibl extension.

6. Apparatus for weaving a strand into a substantially horizontally disposed open-mesh crossstrand fabric comprising a wheeled carriage adapted for movement over said fabric, an elongate strip adapted to assume a substantially horizontal position in close proximity to said fabric, a vertically deflectible extension on one end of said elongate strip, a second elongate strip disposed above and in substantial parallelism with said first-named strip whereby the strand to be woven may be inserted between said strips, the upper strip being disposed to-converge upon and engage the inserted strand at a point which is adjacent the deflectible extension on the lower strip, remotely controlled means for effecting the 

